Overview
William Adams is an accomplished and experienced patent attorney, and his primary focus is patent litigation in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device fields. William has been involved in numerous disputes on behalf of life sciences and pharmaceutical companies, and is co-chair of both the firm’s Hatch-Waxman and Life Sciences Litigation Practice Groups.
William has extensive experience in U.S. federal district courts regarding pharmaceutical patent litigation involving Abbreviated New Drug Applications under the Hatch-Waxman Act. Moreover, William has been involved in counseling clients under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (the “BPCIA”). William’s technical training (B.S. in Chemical Engineering & M.S. in Biotechnology), along with his previous experience working as a pharmaceutical development scientist at a leading drug delivery company allows him to quickly understand the technology at issue. William has had success on behalf of his clients in federal district courts, at the ITC, and at the USPTO.
Having spent time as in-house IP counsel, William truly understands the demands, perspectives, and budgets of his clients. That in-house experience has helped William ensure that each matter and case entrusted to him by his clients is handled efficiently and effectively.
Education
- University of Alabama (J.D., 2008), Editor of the Journal of the Legal Profession
- Johns Hopkins University (M.S. Biotechnology, 2018)
- University of Alabama (B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2002)
Representative Matters
Novo Nordisk Inc. et al. v. Orbicular Pharmaceutical Technologies Pvt. Ltd, et al., 22-cv-856, 23-cv-179 (D. Del.)
Represented Orbicular and Cipla in consolidated patent infringement actions regarding generic Saxenda® and Victoza®. Case settled on eve of trial in 2024.
Horizon Therapeutics, LLC v. Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. et al., 22-4663 (D.N.J.)
Represented Taro in a patent infringement action regarding generic Raviciti®. Case settled in 2023.
Janssen Products, L.P. et al. v. eVenus Pharmaceuticals Labs. Inc. et al., 20-cv-9369 (D.N.J.)
Represented Sun Pharmaceuticals in a patent infringement action regarding generic Yondelis®. Case settled in 2023.
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, 20-cv-00289 (D. Del. 2020)
Represented Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited in patent infringement action regarding generic ixazomib citrate capsule in the District of Delaware. Case settled.
Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 18-cv-02032 (D. Del. 2018)
Represented Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in a patent infringement action regarding generic vassopressin in the District of Delaware. Case settled.
3M Company v. Kerr Corp., 17-cv-01730 (D. Del. 2017)
Represented Kerr against 3M in a patent infringement action regarding dental composites. Case settled.
AbbVie v. Amgen (2016)
Represented Amgen against AbbVie in a patent interference before the PTAB involving the parties’ patent/applications generally related to protein formulations.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing Treatment Mask Systems and Components Thereof 337-TA-1022 (Int’l Trade Commission)
Represented Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in action before the International Trade Commission relating to patient interfaces for sleep apnea therapy. After a favorable evidentiary ruling for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, the patentee unilaterally withdrew its complaint and terminated the investigation. 82 Fed. Reg. 27724.
Forest Labs LLC, et al. v. Accord Healthcare Inc., et al., 15-cv-00272, -00273 (D. Del.)
Represented Alembic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in patent infringement action regarding generic Viibryd® in the District of Delaware. Case settled.
Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences, Inc., et al. v. Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., et al., 16-cv-00217 (D.N.J.)
Represented Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. in patent infringement action regarding generic Onexton® in the District of New Jersey. Case settled.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, et al. v. Wockhardt Bio AG, et al., 16-cv-0040 (D.N.J.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement action regarding generic Gleevec® in the District of New Jersey. Case settled.
Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al., 15-cv-00920-GMS (D. Del.)
Represented Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. in patent infringement action regarding generic Fanapt® in the District of Delaware. Case settled.
In re Certain Dental Implants, USITC Inv. No. 337-TA-934 (ITC 2016).
Represented Nobel Biocare Services AG and Nobel Biocare USA LLC in patent infringement investigation regarding dental implants in the International Trade Commission. Violation found and limited exclusion order issued. Obtained Rule 36 summary affirmance by the Federal Circuit in 2017. Case summary here: https://www.knobbe.com/news/2015/12/knobbe-martens-client-nobel-biocare-wins-itc-%E2%80%93-exclusion-order-against-competitor
Gilead Sciences, Inc. & Emory Univ. v. Mylan, 14-cv-00099 (NDWV)
Represented defendant Mylan in patent infringement action regarding generic Truvada® in the Northern District of West Virginia. Case settled.
Novartis v. Mylan, 14-cv-777 (D. Del.)
Represented defendant Mylan in patent infringement action regarding generic Rivastigmine® in the District of Delaware. Case settled.
Takeda Pharma. Co. Ltd. et al v. Wockhardt Bio AG, Wockhardt Ltd. and Wockhardt USA LLC, 13-CV-06427 (D.N.J.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement action regarding generic lansoprazole ODT in the District of New Jersey. Case settled.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Actavis LLC, 13-cv-01028 (D.N.J.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement action in the District of New Jersey. Settled case.
Pfizer Inc. et al. v. Wockhardt Limited et al., 13-cv-00143 (D. Del.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement action in the District of Delaware. Settled case.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. et al. v. Wockhardt LLC USA et al., 12-03967 (D.N.J.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement action in the District of New Jersey regarding generic zoledronic acid. Settled case.
Nautilus Neurosciences, Inc. et al. v. Wockhardt USA LLC et al., 11-cv-1997 & 12-cv-1243 (D.N.J.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement actions in the District of New Jersey. Settled case.
Purdue Pharma L.P et al. v. Ranbaxy Inc. et al., 10-cv-03734 & 11-cv-07104 (S.D.N.Y.)
Represented defendant Ranbaxy in patent infringement action in the Southern District of New York regarding generic oxycodone. Settled case.
Alcon Research, Ltd. et al. v. Wockhardt Limited et al., 10-cv-00181 (S.D. Ind.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement action in the Southern District of Indiana on patent relating to olopatadine hydrochloride (active ingredient in Alcon’s PATANOL® product). After moving for summary judgment of patent invalidity, succeeded in settling case.
Pfizer et al. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al., 09-cv-0307 (D. Del.)
Represented defendant Wockhardt in patent infringement action.
Salix Pharm. v. Novel Lab. et al., 3:08-cv-4628 (D. Del. 2008)
Represented Salix Pharmaceuticals in a patent-infringement action relating to Salix’s OsmoPrep® product. Case settled.
Sanofi Aventis et al. v. Ebewe Pharma (D.N.J. 2007)
Represented Ebewe Pharma in a patent infringement action involving multiple defendants and three patents relating to oxaliplatin. Case settled.
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- Recognized by The Legal 500 “United States” for Patent Litigation (2024)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 “United States” for Patent Litigation (2023)
Affiliations
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- American Bar Association (ABA), Intellectual Property Section
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers
News & Insights
Articles
What Celgene Corp. v. Peter Means For Biosimilar Developers | Biosimilar Development, Biosimilar Development (September 2019)
Biosimilar Applicants Must Provide Notice of Commercial Launch, What You Need To Know, CAFC (July 2016)
Speeches & Seminars
“Navigating the Patent Landscape for Biosimilars in the United States” World Biosimilars Congress USA 2020, Festival of Biologics, San Diego, CA (March 4, 2020)
“What legal strategies can be adopted to address patent challenges with products with substantial patent portfolios: What can be done to tackle big patent portfolios?” World Biosimilars Congress, Festival of Biologics, Basel, Switzerland 2019 (October 16, 2019)
“Untangling the Inner Workings of IPRs for Biosimilars,” ACI 9th Annual Summit on Biosimilars (June 27, 2018)
“Navigating the Patent Landscape for Biosimilars” World Biosimilars Congress USA 2018 (May 23, 2018)